Internal combustion engine accessory adapter drive unit



Jan. 6, 1959 J. WEISSENBACH INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE ACCESSORY ADAPTER DRIVE UNIT 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 14, 1955 INVENTOR. JOSEPH WEISSE/VBAGH Jan. 6, 1959 J. WEISSENBACH INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE ACCESSORY ADAPTER DRIVE UNIT 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 14. 1955 INVENTOR. J0$EPH WE ISSE/VMGH' BY 14/ forn INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE ACCESSORY ADAPTER DRIVE UNIT The present invention relates generally to an internal combustion engine accessory drive, and is more pa'rtic ularly concerned withan accessory drive which is fabricated as a self-contained unit for utilization in converting diesel-cycle engines for Otto-cycle operation.

Changing conditions, such as unavailability of certain types of fuel, increased cost of fuel, etc., may in many cases make it uneconomical and impractical to operate presently installed diesel engines. To replace these engines with a different type, for example an engine operating on the Otto-cycle, which could operate on other available types of fuel and possibly cheaper fuels, would be extremely expensive. 7

Realizing therefore that under such circumstances it would be very desirable, if possible, to be able to convert presently installed diesel-cycle engnes, so that they could operate according to the Otto-cycle; it is one object of the present invention to provide an accessory drive unit which is fabricatedlas a unit package that may be installed in place of the no longer needed fuel pump mechanism of the diesel engine, and driven by the same actuating facility, the.drive.unit having a plurality of power take-off connections adapted for driving connection with accessory devicesrequired for the Otto-cycle operation of the engine which is being converted,

It is a further object'to 'proyideias'a separate article States Paten of manufacture, an accessorydrive assembly in the form of a unit for use in converting a diesel engine for operation on an Otto-cycle utilizing such fuels as gasoline, L. P. G. butane, L. P. G. propane, etc. 7

i It is also an object of the 'invention to provide an accessory unit in which the housingis arranged to provide a reservoir for oil, so that the movable parts therein will be lubricated. A

Further objects of Y the invention will be brought out in" the following part of the specification, wherein detailed description isfor the purposeof fully disclosing the invention without placing limitations thereon.

" Referring to theaccompanying drawings, which are illustrative-purposes only: J

Fig; 1- isa plan view of an a'c cessory drive unit incorporating the novel features of the herein described invention;

Fig. 2 is an end elevational view of the same;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the cooperative relationship of the parts within the unit housing, taken substantially on line 3-3 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 4 is a transverse section, taken substantially on line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Referring now generally to the drawings, the accessory drive unit of the present invention is generally indicated in Fig. 1 by the letter A as being associated with the framework or other suitable part 10 of an engine which is to be converted, such engine including an actuating facility such as a driving gear 11-as ordinarily utilized for driving the diesel-cycle fuel pump (not shown) of the engine.

More specifically, the accessory drive unit of the pres- 2,867,202 Patented Jan. 6, s

the engine framework. In the present instance, the lugs 13 are apertured as indicated at 14 forreceiving anchor bolts 15adapted to threadedly engage the engine framework.

The casing or housing 12 is formed with a tubular sleeve portion 16 and a connecting enlarged portion 17 which defines a compartmentlS, one side of which has an opening 19 which is formed in an end flange structure 2t).

The sleeve portion 16 has a longitudinally extending bore 21 within which spaced .antifriction bearings 22 and 23 are positioned and in which amain shaft 24 is rotatably supported. I v

The shaft 24 has a projecting contracted end portion 25 which is adapted to receive the hub 26 of a gear 27 which is secured to the shaft end 25 by means of a suitable key 28 and retaining nut 29. The gear 27 is adapted to mesh with the driving gear 11 previously mentioned.

The main shaft 24 at its opposite end is provided with a reduced end portion 30 upon which there is mounted a spiral driving gear 31, this gear'being retained in position against a shoulder 32 on the shaft by means ofa snap ring 33.

Direct driving connection is made between the .eud portion 30 of the shaft with an accessory device, shown in this instance as comprising a governor which may be of the centrifugaLhydraulic or other required type, as generally indicated by the numeral 34. This governor is adapted to be secured tothe flange 20 by means of suitable bolts 35, a sealing gasket 36 being interposed between the associated parts of the governor and flange in order to provide a sealed connection and prevents leakage of lubricant from the-housing 12. At the other end of the housing, leakage of. lubn'cantis prevented by means of an oil seal assembly 37 associated with the hub 26ofthe gear27. 1 M

The governor 34 includes a driving shaft 38 which is in alignment and end-to-endrelation with the reduced end portion 30, the shaft and end portion being interconnected through a flexible coupling.39 of conventional construction-f As thus.connected,.the.governor will be driven at the same speed as the main shaft 24.

The accessory drive unit is also arranged todrive other accessories needed for the conversion, and which it may be required to be driven at a different speed than that of the main shaft 24. As shown in Fig. 4, a countershaft 40 is rotatably supported on one side of the main shaft end portion 30, while 'a second countershaft ;41 is rotatably supported on. theopposite side; Each of these shafts has its lowermost'iend supported in' a suitable bearing 42 positioned within a'bearing recess 43 formed in the bottom wall of the enlarged housing portion 17. The shafts are thus supported in an upright position, and the shaft 40 is driven from themain shaft through a spiral gear 44 which meshes with the gear 31, while the countershaft 41 is driven through a gear 45 which like-.

wise meshes with the gear 31.

The shaft 40 is adapted to drive an accessory device, which in this instance is shown diagrammatically in dotted lines as comprising a distributor 45 of conventional construction, and which is adapted to be mounted on the accessory drive unit by means of a spacer adapter 46 of tubular construction arranged to fit within an opening 47 in the top wall of the housing.

The distributor has a tubular support in the form of an extension 48 whichis arranged to slip into the adapter, this support housing the distributor operating shaft 49 which is shown in this case as being connected with the counters'haft 40 by means of a conventional flexible coupling 50;

j The distributor is anchored in operating position by means of a clamping collar 51, this collar having aprojecting arrn52 whiclrisapertured to receive'an anchoring or holding down' bolt 53, a spacer 54 being inserted between thearm and adjacent face of the housing.

The countershaft 41 is provided with a*con'tra'cted upper end portion 55 which is rotatably supported within a bushing. which serves as a steady bearing for this end of the shaft and further incorporates a threaded end 57 adapted for connection with ajtachometer drive as shownlin dotted lines and indicated by the numeral 58,

the, contracted end 55 of the countershaft having an end recess 59 for receivingthe flexible driving shaft for the tachometer; While the "co'u'ntershaft 41'is illustrated as being adaptedfor driving a tachometer, in some installations this shaft maybe utilized for driving some other type of accessory siich, for example, as "a vacuum pump in the ease-or stationary engines! I The sleeve porti on 16 and enlarged portion of the housing cooperate to form an oil reservoir to which a suitable lubricant may be'furnished so that the rotating shafts, gears and bearings contained therein will be appropriately lubricated at all times. Flow connections for lubricant may be made directly to the housing 12 or other arrangements may be made depending upon the particular installation. In the present instance, a supply line 66 is shown as being-connected to the governor, and lubricant suppliedthereto will flow from the governor into the 0 interior of the compartment 18 which is provided with a lubricant discharge line connection 61. By this means, the necessary amount of lubricant will be maintained Within the housing at all times; When it becomes necessary; the housing may be cleaned'and any accumulated depositsthere'in may be drained on by removing a drain plug 62 provided in the bottom wall of the housing p01 tion' 17. e

I It is believed thatit will be readily appreciated from the foregoing description that the access'ory drive unit or the'pres ent invention provides a' compact unit of simple construction which materially facilitatesthe conversion of 4 extending into said housing; a speed responsive engine control governor mounted on and supported by said housing and having an operating shaft extending into said housing adapted to be driven from the auxiliary driving shaft of the engine; and transmission means within said housing forming a driving connection between said governor shaft and said countershafts.

2. A unitized component assembly for converting a diesel-cycle engine having anauxiliary driving shaft into an engine operating on an Otto-cycle; said unit comprising: a housing adapted to be mounted on a part of the engine structure adjacent said auxiliary driving shaft; a

V distributor mounted on' the top of said housing having a combustion engine operating'on a diesel-cycle for op eration on an Otto-cycle.

Various modifications may suggest themselves to' those skilled in 'the art without departing fro'inthe spirit of my invention; and, h nce, I do, not wish to be restricted to the specificfo'rrn' shown or uses mentioned, except to the extent indicated in the appended claimsl I claim:

'1. A unitized component assembly for converting a diesel-cycle engine having an; auxiliary driving shaft into an engine operating onan'Otto-cycle, said unit comprising: a housing adapted to be mounted on a part of the engine structure adjacent said auxiliary. driving shaft; a distributor mounted on andsupported by said housing and having an operating countershaft extending into the housing; tachometer driving means including a countershaft a countershaft extending into the housing; tachometer driving means inelu'ding a countershaft extending into said housing, said shaft being spaced from and parallel to said first countershaft and having a power take-off driving connection at thetop of saidhousing; a speed responsive engine control governor mounted at one end of said hous ing and having an dperat'ingsnfi extending into said housing between said duntersnarts;'meafi at an opposite 1 end of said housing from said governor providing .a driving connection with said governor shaft and enabling its being driven from said auxiliary driving shaft; and speed reducing transmission means within the housing forming driving connections between said governor shaft and said countershafts, whereby said countershafts may be actuated at speeds other than the speed of the governor shaft. f

3. A unitized transmission and support for housing and driving an Otto-cycle ignition distributor, an engine speed governor, and tachometer driving means for converting a lull diesel-cycle engine for operation as a full Otto-cycle engine, comprising: a housing adapted to be mounted on a part of the engine structure adjacent to .a drive shaft used for actuating the diesel-cycle engine fuel system and governing accessories prior to said conversion; means respectively supporting said governor, distributor, and tachometer driving means on said'housing; and a transmission assembly mounted in said housing, said transmis sion assembly being adapted for driving eonnection from said engine drive shaft, and having separate power takeofis connected respectively with'said distributor, governor,

and tachometer driving mean's'. V

7 References Cited the file or patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Great Britain Oct; 23, 1929 

